Challenging People's Perceptions

In certain societies, status is commonly linked to the type of work that you do. The seemingly more 'important' your work is, the more status you receive from your peers and friends. This is the background that most toilet operators face when entering into the business of sanitation, especially cleaning and maintaining them. Most people are reluctant to work in such a business because of the other people's perceptions regarding the type of work that they will be doing. In most communities, the toilet operators are one of the most looked down upon people and most of them do not originally come from the area and as such do not have deep roots or long connections with the people. They are mostly migrant workers from other parts of the country who come to the community to do the work that the existing people are too ashamed to do themselves despite the fact that they are a direct cause of it.

With this kind of situation, it has proven difficult in enlisting the help of a cleaner who lives in the area, to do the work that needs to be done. Most of the people who have been approached are at first willing to take up the opportunity but eventually balk when they actually have to do the work in their home area. They can do it in another area, just not their back yard.

Is it possible to change the people's mindset regarding this profession? How will we be able to change or influence deep rooted sentiments regarding toilet cleaners among the society that they live in? In such a situation, would an entrepreneur be able to emerge and take a chance?

This blog is one in a series that documents the journey of Saraplast in setting up an inclusive slum sanitation venture.